Definition

A cerebral aneurysm (pronounced an-yuh-RIH-zim) occurs at a weak spot in an artery that supplies blood to the brain. Once weakened, the artery wall bulges outward and fills with blood. This bulge is called an aneurysm. An aneurysm can burst, spilling blood into the brain. When this happens, permanent brain damage, disability, or death may occur.

Description

Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood from the heart to other parts of the body. For a variety of reasons, weak spots sometimes develop in the walls of an artery. When that happens, an aneurysm develops. An aneurysm in the brain is one of the most dangerous types.

The greatest danger of an aneurysm is rupture. A ruptured aneurysm in the brain allows blood to flow into the surrounding area. Blood may also flow into the area that surrounds brain tissue. This event is called a subarachnoid...